The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-04-01
Was roughly told to ehold my

stWs ll5i -,s3s-t -
Seeing that ] should only prejudice
the cause OF the unfortunate man by
my advocacy. said no more, but re.
solved to make 1t MS light for him as j
could while he vas ON watch. He
managed to go OH duty for the next
two days, being assisted by kind
hearted shipniates, but on the third,
being overcome by the intense heat,
dropped exhausted upon the deck.
Convinced at last OF the genuineness
OF the mans illness, the captain had
him carried below, where a close ex-
animation revealed beyond a doubt
that he was dangerously III OF the vel.
low fever. He soon became delirious
and his rayings were most horrible
to listen to. He remainedin this con-
dition during the rest of the trip.
When We were within "a hours sail
of Bermuda Twas summoned to the
captains room, where / found the
rest OF the officers assembled. The
captain then informed us that, in his
haste, he had neglected to take
out our health papers at Per-
nambuco, and that consequently
We should not be allowed to land at
Bermuda in the usual way. He pro-
posed that we should clay off and on"
near a portion OF the island that he
knew to be thinly settled, where we
should probably be able to purchase
our vegetables from the farmers and
take them aboard in the whale-boa
before the government authorities
were aware OF our presence. / then
ventured to suggest that we had a man
aboard who was dying ofyellow fever,
and that it would be necessary for hui
manity's sake to get him into the hos
| pital. The captain, with somewhat
sinister look, shortly informed me that
the case would be provided for, and
the conference broke up. On the Goth
day OF May we sighted the lighthouse
tower OF Bermuda, and the wind be-
| ing fair and strong we're soon
lying within easy distance OF the
shore. The captain gave orders
that the mates boat be got ready for
lowering, and prepared to 60 ashore
to arrange for the purchase OF our
stores. As was going belog at eight
bells, saw the mate walk for ard and
descend into the forecastle. Suspect.
ing that something was up. deter
mined to remained on deck. After q
| while ] saw couple OF the foremast
hands lift q small sea chest on deck
and go below again; in n short time
they again appeared, bearing between
them the sick Malay, The poor
watch was indeed pitiable object as
he was borne aft between the two
men. His thin, hot hands clutched
wildly in the air, and his rolling
eyeballs seemed to appeal for
mercy as they glanced from
| one to anotherof the crew. / stepped
lupto him, and;as tenderly as / could
helped to place him in tho mate boat;
his chest Ia light one enough, poor fell
Iow), was placed beside him, and in a
few, moments the boat was manned,
and, with the captain and the mate in
the stern, set ont for the beach.
At about III the afternoon the
boat came alongside again, and the
captain informed me that satisfactory
arrangements had been made with a
dealer in provisions on the island and
that the boats were to be cleared Of
their whaling gear at once in order to
get our supplies under cover OF
darkness. Wind and sea- were in
our favor, aud by 3 in the morning
the vegetables were safe under
the matches and the boats swinging on
the davits again. In the hurry and
hustle consequent upon the work
in hand had forgotten to
inquire as to the fate OF the unhappy
Malay. A little close Questioning OF
one of the mates crew convinced me
that our inhuman captain had con-
veyed the poor wretch to an unfre-
quented part oil tbs island, and left
him there without food or drink to
die q death Of untold agony.
All that day we bowled along under
the stiff nor'west breeze, with every
sail set and drawing, and Bermuda
was far astern when came on deck to
stand the early night watch. The
wind was still fair, but somewhat
lighter than during the day The
glass was falling somewhat, but
not rapidly enough to warrant
us in shortening sail It
was very dark night, and the sough
OF the water along the side of the ship
us she rushed along under the press OF
her bellying canvas. made mournful
accen.paniment to the solemn boom
ing ot'the wind through the rigging.
The men were scattered IN groups of
two or three about the deck, talking
in undertones, and occasionally glanc-
ing at the weather, which had begun
to look q trifis threatening, ! was
lying upon the ecnrpenter,s bench think
iilg over the events of the day, when T.
noticed O faint flash OF lightning far
out ahead OF tho vessel. The wind
asterh had been dying gradually, and,
aware OF the squally tendency OF
The weather In those latitudes, !
mounted the rigging and stepped into
the larboard boat to take q good oh
seryation OF the horizon tcr'ard.
Soon there was bright flash OF light
ning-then another-and finally the
sky ahead was almost continuous
biass of light. Apprehensive OF anap-
preaching salall and knowing that to
be taken aback by one with a full
spread OF canvas on the vessel meant
destruction, hastened below to con-
suit the captain. Idescended IN to the
cabin and found him busy oser his
log at the dining-room table. He was
seated directly under the pinnacle so
that the light from the swinging lamp
above shone directly down upon him.
4 spoke to him OF my appre-
tensions as 10 the threatened
squall, but he did rot seem to
heed me. Raising my voice repeated
what | had said, and as he looked up
/ saw that he had been drinking heavi-
ly He forbade with an oath my sug-
gsstion to shorten sail, adding that he
meant to be con the whaling grounds
or in hell by the morning"
Seeing that it was useless to argue
with him In his then condition turn
ed to go. when an impulse that ! can
not explain caused me to glance up
ward. Peering down through the
glass. rooted binnace distinctly saw
a human lace. The hands were curv-
ed round each side OF it SO as to
concentrate the light upon the
captain as he sat at the table,
and a pair Of cleaning eyeballs
glared wolfishly through the fingers
INTO the cabin below. ] Igazed fixedly
upward t9r q moment, thinking that
perhaps my Imagination was playing